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The Hockey Sweater: 30th Anniversary Edition    by Roch Carrier & Sheldon Cohen Amazon.com order for
Hockey Sweater
by Roch Carrier
Order:  USA  Can
Tundra, 2014 (1979)
Hardcover, Softcover
* * *   Reviewed by Hilary Williamson

This is the 30th Anniversary Edition of the Canadian classic, The Hockey Sweater by Roch Carrier, illustrated by Sheldon Cohen, and translated from the original French by Sheila Fischman.

It all began in the 1940s in Ste. Justine, Québec, Canada, population 1200, where the winters were long and the author tells us 'our real life was on the skating-rink. Real battles were won on the skating-rink. Real strengths appeared on the skating-rink. The real leaders showed themselves on the skating-rink.'

Young skaters hero worshipped the Rocket, Maurice Richard of 'the Montreal Canadiens, the best hockey team in the world.' When young Roch's hockey sweater was ripped, his mother ordered one from the Eaton catalogue. But a Toronto Maple Leafs sweater arrived!! It got young Roch into all kinds of trouble.

The story was made into an animated film. A DVD is included with this anniversary edition, which also has early sketches, manuscripts and correspondence.

At the very end, Carrier advises his young readers: 'If you're convinced that you're not good at something, try harder. If you don't get better, think that you are good at something else. Then your job is to find what you're good at. You have to try. Try. Try again. Try hard. Try harder. Good luck kids. Remember: Luck comes after work.'

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